It's tough for anyone to get a job in today's economic climate, but it's especially tough for people who are ex-offenders.

Jerry Morlock

Find out why hiring ex-offenders is so important during a live chat with Jerry Morlock, employer connections specialist with 2nd Chance Connections, a federally funded effort aimed at reducing recidivism among mothers and fathers coming out of prison and jail in Muskegon, Oceana and Ottawa counties.

You can post questions in the comments below or ask them yourself at noon. Morlock will describe his efforts working with employers to hire ex-offenders and explain programs that are available from noon to 1 p.m. at MLive.com/muskegon.

In a recent Viewpoint, "Hiring ex-offenders is a step toward restoring the community," Morlock pointed out that 95 percent of the people sent to prison or jail are one day returned to their communities. Helping them get jobs improves their lives and it helps the community by reducing crime and eases the burden on social service and nonprofit agencies. It also reduces recidivism, saving Michigan taxpayers the $35,000 per year it costs to keep someone behind bars, Morlock wrote.

As Charles Nash noted in a comment under an earlier story about Morlock's live chat:

If a person has done their time and paid their price, if we are able to help then we should. It all goes to help them and help the community at the same time. The problem is so many are labeled and given indirect life sentences with these labels/discrimination. I do believe in earning a second chance by letting them volunteer to work. If they prove themselves, why not give them a second chance at a job. How do we expect anyone to become a productive citizen of society if they have no way to support themselves or their families?